Believe River Brotherhood Raw Footage

David Burke • 7/30/157/28/15

This is what it might be like to be on one of the Believer River brothers’ fishing trip. This short clip captures a candid conversation between the middle brother, Dave and the youngest brother Seth. Dave just so happened to be having a lights out day while younger brother Seth, who usually out-fishes everyone, was on the camera. If you this doesn’t make your day, or entice you to go one a trip with Believe River I’d be surprised. What you may not know about Believer River is that our passion isn’t just about steelhead, it’s about a true brotherhood of love, respect and fun. See what it’s all about.

A Confident Angler Catches the Fish

David Burke • 7/28/15

You’ve heard it said that confidence is everything when it comes to catching, landing and releasing steelhead. Every season this idea grows and grows on me as I learn more about flies, fish and reading water. I’m sure general confidence is helpful, but I’d like to make a few recommendations that may help your confidence grow in the area of fly choice.

Let me start by stating that I used to carry the kitchen sink while out steelhead fishing, knowing that I may have to change my fly multiple times throughout the day. If one was not working, I’d loose confidence in it. If I went through three or four flies I would find myself in a bit of a neurosis, trying to dig to find that just right pattern. The truth is any fly with a hook will work, but some flies just seem to work better than others.

After spending countless hours on the vice I’ve learned that contrast, profile, and movement are the three key ingredients to a fly that will entice even the most reluctant steelhead. Warning, just because a fly looks super buggy at the shop doesn’t mean it will fish that way. Many flies are tied for the shop, not for the river. In order to achieve profile and movement a fly has to have the perfect mix of material. As I look back through my old boxes of flies, I find myself wanting to bust out my scissors and cut out material in order to reduce the amount of feathers or dubbing. I’ve learned that less really means more when it comes to flies. The new rule of thumb is: Less material, especially less of the same kind of material. Don’t ever tie on two of the same feathers, especially marabou. Why? It may appear to provide profile, but it won’t have the correct movement because marabou likes marabou, so it sticks together. Build profile with strong shoulder of dubbing or hackle, then tie your marabou in sparsely. You’ll be pleased with the difference in profile and movement.

The best day I’ve ever had steelhead fishing came when I put on a size 7 sparsely tied skunk pattern. The fish just couldn’t seem to leave it alone. Here’s why a small fly beats a big fly in clear water conditions most days. First, it’s subtle…I believe steelhead often act like a playful cat, chasing something down out of curiosity and then swiping at it. Something small triggers a fish’s curiosity. “What was that little thing that just swam by?” They then go in search of it and often times decide to take a swipe. A big fly triggers a completely different set of instincts for a fish, the protector, aggressor instincts. In clear water, fish are less likely to get super aggressive, as they don’t feel as safe. A small, sparsely tied fly will become your go to pattern once you begin to experience the curiosity of steelhead. You’ve probably seen videos of fish coming up and hitting at flies, only to return again and again on consecutive casts.

I’ve included a picture of one of my profile flies. I tie it in such a way that the materials repel each other, so that the front hackle actually bounces off the dubbing ball creating a large profile and lots of movement in the water. Additionally, the black head provides a great contrast to the purple body for low visibility situations. I have great confidence swinging this fly, plus I know no one else is swinging it because it cannot be purchased in the store and I have yet to see anyone build a fly that has the same compilation of materials as this one. So, when I step into a run that has already been fished, I’m casting with 100% confidence in my choice of flies. I’m sparser, buggier and better contrasting than most of what the fish have seen ahead of me.

Nymph Swing

Seth Burke • 7/19/157/21/15

I love casting two-handed fly rods. Swinging traditional flies on a
floating Scandi line. Standing knee deep in 100-yard runs cobbled with basketball-sized boulders. Stepping up to the challenge when the river taunts me to cast a little farther, a little farther.

Not all rivers are this way.

Sometimes a fisherman needs to sit and listen to the river. Observe. Absorb. Try something different and break the chains of tradition.

Give it a try and you might be rewarded like I was today.

My brother Dave, also known as “Red”, perfecected the Nymph Swing years ago as we began our journey into fly fishing for Steelhead. He started with a single hand rod but now prefers fishing two-handed rods. This technique can be used with either.

Select a long leader, the length of your rod or three to five feet longer, and your favorite buggy flies for the water you are fishing. I like to start with small weighted natural flies fished in tandum. A Steelhead Price Nymph and a Copper John. Start at the head of the pool or run, as summer Steelhead like the oxygenated water. (Don’t underestimate how far up they will hold in the head of a run.) Cast up stream, holding your rod up to keep a tight line. As the flies drift down current slowly lower your rod and begin following the flies. Then lower your rod completley and allow the flies to swing all the way to the bank.

It’s pretty simple, but what makes someone an expert with this technique is their fish sense. Stay connect to your flies. Use a sensative hand. Listen to and feel the river. If you need more weight, you can add a split shot or fish a heavier lead fly. A weighted Egg Sucking Leech can be an effective lead fly. Sometimes Steelhead will grab your fly early in the drift or as your flies transition into the swing. Where ever this happens, be ready. It can be violent.

Enjoy!

Silent Salmon

Timothy Burke • 7/19/157/16/15

Bottom of the 9th with on a few minutes of day light glistening on Puget Sound Captain Sloan faithfully worked his cut herring in 150 feet of water. Dropping the mooching rig down till it bumped off the bottom, several cranks on the reel to avoid the sharks and flounders Sloan held the line steady. As the line tightened under the wait of a feeding fish all went silent. I looked over to see the captain focused and determined, then the magic began…Fish on!

Brite Eye’s & Salty Sea’s

Timothy Burke • 7/12/157/16/15

Heading down the Oregon coast you’re bound to slip through the cozy coastal town of Newport. Early Sunday morning the Gaynor boys and I skipped church and headed for the open seas. We jumped in the 28ft North River Seahawk Os named “Brite Eye’s”. Cruising out of the harbor we were determined to do some salmon fishing. Much to our surprise within minutes of placing the rods in the holders the left rod tip started to throb frantically revealing the hoochie rig was under attack.

The day ended up with 5 beautiful coho in the boat, calm seas, and some vey satisfied fisherman! One thing that really stuck out was captain Mike Gaynor Sr. said he “always expects to catch his limit”! Fishing with confidence is a big part of being successful!

Always Believe

Best Fishin Buddies

Timothy Burke • 6/25/15

I think about all the wonderful times I have had on the river with my family and friends. A simple stream, a radical river, or even a small creek provides the context for great relationships. With my latest trip being the day before Fathers Day I had the privilege of having Chiyang and his 11 year old son Cody in my boat for the day.

I forgot what it was like to be 11 and go fishing. There is a sense of optimism and delight in every cast. The youthful passion is contagious combined with a relentless hunger for fish, fish, and more fish.

The Day was filled with laughter, conversation and stories of past fishing trips and different experiences. One of the highlights came for me at the end of the Day when 11 year old Cody asked me to teach him how to cast a fly rod. With much enthusiasm we began the beautiful art and disciplines of fly casting. He was a natural, patient, and relentless. Cody has a wonderful future ahead of him guided by his loving Father Chiyang!

Hand in Hand

Timothy Burke • 6/10/156/12/15

John and Amy climbed into the drift boat hand in hand ready for a husband wife adventure. In the first deep run a sudden take on the far left rod caught everyone motionless and put us down on the count 0-1.

The morning was magical with gin clear water and blue bird skies. The osprey circled looking for a morning meal while dipper birds chased each other up and down the banks. Boulders slipped passed us as we slid into a run of cloudy clay banks and downed tree’s. Under the stain of the current rods danced playfully in the early summer air.

Amy called out, “John whats wrong with your rod” as the tip drove deep into the swirling water. John screamed “fish on” grabbed the rod and set the hook fervently. At that moment the chaos started as he plunged into his fish pack clamoring and crying out for his go-pro camera. “Amy take the rod while I get the go-pro” was his frantic logic as Amy grabbed the rod and fought the rising steelhead. With boils, runs, and reel screaming action she held on for dear life. The long and aggressive battle was won by Amy she tamed the wild beast.

The story goes, John hooked it, Amy fought it, John landed it, and Amy captured it on photo. A beautiful story of an amazing couple enjoying life together Hand in Hand!

Always Believe

Red’s Redside

Timothy Burke • 6/7/156/12/15

As the sun dips blow the canyon wall humming bird sized salmon flies clutter the evening air. As they dip down to lay their eggs on the cool water film the hungry redside’s lurk below. It’s a frantic thrash as the large trout choke down their evening meal.

The fly line stretches out a lonely bug drifting nimbly down the curling currents. The white tuft of it’s silhouetted profile makes even the keenest eyes squint in the dusky light. With a wisp it’s gone buried deep in the jaws of its nemesis.

Sailing for Sailfish

Timothy Burke • 5/17/156/12/15

On a warm Caribbean evening just outside of the Dominican Republic our sailboat methodically worked its way to the local Puerto Plata. With just a few winks of light left and a dangerously shallow entrance into the port the sailfish were waiting. The screaming drag on the reel told tale of a angry sailfish on its way back to the deep blue.

As it danced across the water with boundless acrobatics the varsity sail showed why its one of the top sport fish in warm water. After 25 minutes of prayer and praise the giant made its way to the ship. A shot of coconut rum in its gills and my hand on its bill we landed this beauty.

Shark Bite Tuna

Timothy Burke • 5/14/156/2/15

Fish-on, Fish-on, Fish-on was the call to the captain as we slowed the boat and dropped our sails. With mostly barracuda harassing our hooks this was a different kind of pull. Diving deep the shimmer of silver was breath taking. It looks massive until the line went limp and the struggling victim obediently made its way to the surface.

With little life or fight left it was obvious someone had interfered in the fight.

At least our foe had left us some of the spoil.